Real terms funding increase in Scotland ‘far less’ than claimed as IFS warns of council tax ‘missed opportunity’

Local authorities in Scotland will see a below-average funding increase of just 0.3% in real terms in 2026/27 – far less than the 2% claimed by finance secretary Shona Robison – according to Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) analysis.

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The IFS said the claim was based on a “misleading” comparison of plans to initial rather than the latest budget for the current year.

Real terms funding increase in Scotland ‘far less’ than claimed as IFS warns of council tax ‘missed opportunity’

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